Karen Palmer, an award-winning multidisciplinary immersive filmmaker, believes a new type of storytelling is needed in order to shift people’s perspectives and make a difference in the world. Inspired by the events in Ferguson, MO, following the shooting of Michael Brown, Palmer created RIOT, an emotionally responsive, live-action film that uses AI and machine learning through facial recognition to allow participants to navigate though a dangerous riot. Palmer’s work challenges participants to understand other people’s lived experiences, and represents a powerful development in the emerging field of neurogames.

Chet Faliszek, who has written some of the most loved video games of all time, is creating a new kind of game—one that uses AI to create deep characters and a world that allows players complete agency.

Cress discusses why Nat Geo’s approach is to engage people around shared passions, and to spotlight the individuals who have something to teach us. The goal, always, is to create opportunities for audiences to join the discussion.

Grace Boyle, founder and Director of The Feelies, believes that opening up greater realms of our perception for storytelling–painting with more of that sensory palette–can allow audiences to form intuition and connect with the experiences of others and the world around them.